Canoeists prepare to take on Schools River Championships
Florida Lake Canoe Club provided the opportunity for the young new learners to gain experience, knowledge, be taught safety on rivers, and to be certified as proficient and competent.
Junior canoeists in Gauteng are looking forward to the opportunity to participate in the 20km two-day Tugela River Race between Bergville and Winterton on Saturday August 13 and 14 which will be hosted by the Michaelhouse School based in KwaZulu-Natal.
The race will be the official KZN K1 River Championships schools league event and juniors from all areas of South Africa who enjoy river paddling will participate.
All paddlers must receive some opportunity to be trained on rivers, and taught the basics of safety on rivers, and be certified as proficient and competent to be allowed to enter a river race.
Juniors from the Ridge Primary School in Sandton as well as from Parktown Girls High School in Rosebank enjoyed the opportunity to be escorted by Gauteng safety officers and experienced river paddlers to gain the experience and understanding of rivers, and receive their river proficiency certification in order to enjoy the river championships race.
Florida Lake Canoe Club provided the opportunity for the young new learners to gain experience, knowledge, be taught safety on rivers, and to be certified as proficient and competent.
A few safety officers, river coaches and experienced paddlers accompanied the group to escort them, and partner with them in double boats to control the situation if needed, from the back of the boat.
“The proficiency trip took place on the Highveld Crocodile River near the Pelindaba NECSA site, which runs into Hartbeespoort Dam, with beautiful scenery and glorious sunshine. The young paddlers and their adult escorts had a fabulous fun time on the river,” said the Gauteng Canoe Union PR, Media Liaison and Safety Officer Jennie Dallas.
